Maroela Media reports that over-regulation by the Department of Health threatens to tear apart and cause great damage to the somatology industry in SA.

Trade union Solidarity announced on Friday that it will be launching a comprehensive campaign to oppose the proposed regulations. The regulations aim to bring somatology under the jurisdiction of the Allied Health Professions Council of SA (AHPCSA) – a move that will place the beauty industry in a vulnerable position nationwide. The proposed regulations could affect all beauty salons, spas, training institutions and independent somatologists in SA, and according to Solidarity, this will have serious labour and economic consequences. These include expensive licenses and mandatory registration in order to be considered a health facility; the artificial separation of services in that beauty therapists and somatologists will no longer be allowed to offer all their skills within one business; and the possible closure of numerous businesses, resulting in large-scale job losses.

Johan Roos of Solidarity’s Communication Network warned that the “draconian” regulations would unnecessarily fragment the profession and result in once large industries shrinking to small, almost unviable sectors. Solidarity is currently gathering large-scale input from employers and employees in the beauty industry for submission to government departments on 22 November.

• Read the full original of the Afrikaans report in the above regard at Maroela Media

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